Liquid dispensing device



Aug. 23, .1938. Q SM|TH 2,127,848

LIQUID DISPENS ING DEVICE Filed DeC. 19, 1935 2 Shets-Sheet l l l Snventor ltforneg Aug. 23, 1938.

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L. c, SMITH 2,127,848

LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed DeC. 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 B mf@ (Ittorneg Patented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED STATES LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Lawrence C. Smith, Kenmore, N. Y., assignor to Fedders Manufacturing Company, Inc., Buffalo, N. Y.

- Application December 19, 1936, Serial No. 116,765

3 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid dispensing devices, and it is particularly applicable to refrigerated dispensers of the regenerative type where the waste liquid is utilized to pre-cool entrant liquid.

The invention is directed to a cooling unit structure formed with refrigerated and regenerative chambers which are thermally related in such manner as to protect the refrigeration sys- 19 tem from overloads incurred through the operating irregularities of the dispenser. As a further safeguard, means are provided to maintain predetermined liquid volumes in the dispenser through the provision o f an`air separator which prevents the accumulation of air in the dispenser chambers.

Other features of the invention are more specifically set forth in the accompanying specification and drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the dispenser and cooling unit thereof;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the delivery portions of the cooling unit.

The cooling system of the invention may be utilized with any desired type of liquid dispensing equipment, regardless of the number of valved liquid outlets contained therein. In the drawings the invention is organized with a familiar type of dispensing cabinet I0, having a removable cap plate II upon which is mounted liquid outlet ilt- `tings I2 and I3 having branch delivery pipes or draught arms I4 and I5 respectively, in which valves I6 are interposed. 'I'he fittings I2 and I3 are of the glass iilling and bubbler types respectively, and both are devised to direct waste Water into a bow1 I1 which drains through a waste pipe I3.

'I'he cooling unit 20 is located inthe cabinet t0 immediately beneath the plate I I, and it rests on a shelf 2l which, in cooperation with a granular cork or like packing I9 insulates the unit from heat ingress. The unit consists of a large tank or cylinder 22, capped by heads 23 and 24, and

having a partition 25 secured therein to form Within the cylinder a refrigeration .chamber 26 and a regeneration chamber 21. U-bolts 3|), extending about the cylinder 22, secure the unit to the shelf 2| (Fig. 2). y

A regenerative radiator device, which may be in the form of a coil 2B, is disposed within the chamber 21, and its inletl terminal 29 extends through the head 24 and is connected to a tube 3| leading to a city pressure line or other liquid supply source. The remaining terminal 32 projects through a hole 33 in the partition 25, and thus directs liquid into the chamber 26. Liquid is directed from the chamber 26 through a discharge conduit 34, and thence into the supply pipes I4 and I5, which are connected thereto by a 5 fitting 35.

To prevent the accumulation of air in the upper portion of the chamber 26, a small injector tube 31 (Fig. 3) is disposed within the conduit 34, and it projects therefrom to a. high point in the cham- 10 ber 26. It will be apparent that if one or both valves I6 are opened, the flow of liquid through the conduit 34 will cause air to be sucked out of the tank and carried along with the emergent fluid. 15

Waste liquid entering the waste pipe I8 from the bowl I1 is directed into the regeneration chamber 21 through a connection 40 between the pipe I8 and the top of the cylinder 22. The drainage liquid flows about the coil 2B and into a 20 baille 4I and nally emerges from the unit in a drain pipe 42 secured in the head 24.

Additional drain pipes 44 enter the bottom of both the chambers 26 and 21, and they are sealed by caps 45. 'I'hese pipes are utilized only when 25 it is desired to clean the chambers, which involves a complete drainage thereof.

'I'he refrigeration chamber 26 contains a large refrigerant coil 50, Whose inlet and outlet terminals 5I and 52 extend through the head 23 and 30 are connected to pressure and suction sides of a refrigeration system. An inlet control device 53 for the refrigerant circuit is disposed beneath the shelf 2l, and a thermostatic bulb 54 forming part thereof is inserted in the chamber 26 through a 35 hole 55. I nasmuch as the operation of systems of this type is Well understood by those skilled in the art, a complete description and illustration of the entire system is not necessary.

It win be observed that the thermostatic bulb 40 54 is located in close proximity to the coil terminal 32, which serves as a liquid inlet for the chamber 26. Thus, the relatively warm liquid entering the chamber affects the bulb and the associated control device 52 to the end that the 45 refrigerant system responds to the liquid inlet temperature during all periods of use of the dispenser, that is, when one or both of the Valves I6 are open. When the Valvesare closed, liquid ceases to enter the chamber 26, whereupon the bulb will rapidly respond to the mean temperature of the liquid body therein.

The waste liquid, in passing through the regenerative chamber 21, directly contacts the coil 28, and, having a considerably lower temperature 55 than the uncooled liquid in the coil, it absorbs heat therefrom, and thus performs a useful heat exchange function before passing to the drain. It will be understood that the emergent liquid directed into the chamber 21 is but a few degrees warmer than the liquid in the chamber 26, and thus during active periods only a small heat exchange action takes place through the separating partition 25. During long periods of inactivity of the dispenser, the thermal communication between the chambers afforded by this partition permits the quiescent liquid in the chamber 21 to be maintained at a low temperature. This insures the maintenance of substantially constant temperatures in both chambers, regardless of operating conditions, and thus the liquid is always pre-cooled before introduction into the refrigeration chamber 26, and consequently the refrigeration system is not subjected to violent loads which would be incurred if warm water were introduced into the chamber 26.

It will be apparent that various modifications, such as the utilization of any other known type of refrigeration system, or structural variations in the shape or type of the coils and chambers may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a liquid dispenser, a tank having a metallic partition forming two thermally connected chambers therein, refrigeration means associated with one chamber, a radiator disposed in the remaining chamber and having a liquid inlet connected externally of the chamber to a liquid supply source and a liquid outlet directed into said first chamber, a draught arm extending from said rst chamber, a waste conduit adapted to direct waste liquid received from the draught arm into said remaining chamber, and a drain conduit communicating with said remaining chamber.

2. In a liquid dispenser, a tank provided with a metallic partition to form a pair of thermally connected chambers, refrigeration means associated with one chamber and including a thermostatic control bulb mounted in said chamber, a radiator in the remaining chamber having a liquid inlet connected externally of said chamber to a liquid supply source and a liquid outlet directed into said ilrst chamber, said outlet being disposed to direct liquid from the radiator onto said bulb, a draught arm extending from said rst chamber, a waste conduit adapted to direct waste liquid received from the draught arm into said remaining chamber, and a. drain conduit communicating With said remaining chamber.

3. In a liquid dispenser, a metallic tank provided with an internal partition wall to form a pair of chambers, a refrigerant expander disposed in one of said chambers, inlet and outlet pipes connected tosaid expander and passing through the wall of said tank, a liquid discharge pipe in communication with said chamber, a liquid inlet pipe communicating through the wall of said tank with the other of said chambers, said inlet pipe terminating in a heat exchange coil disposed in said other chamber, the end of said coil entering said first named chamber through said partition wall, a waste liquid line in communication with said second chamber, a waste discharge line connected to said second chamber, and thermostatic receiving means disposed in said rst named chamber adjacent said coil and passing through said partition wall.

LAWRENCE C. SMITH. 

